Norwalk edges Greenwich in Babe Ruth slugfest

By Christopher Falvo, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Published 9:39 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

NORWALK -- In a game where both teams combined for 31 runs, it seemed it would be the last team batting that would claim victory in Sunday's meeting between the Greenwich and Norwalk 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars at Brien McMahon High School.

Instead, Norwalk third baseman Mike Carter helped decide the outcome when he snared a line-drive off the bat of Greenwich's Sam Fraser and doubled up Zach Mulhem off first to snuff out a seventh inning rally. Steve Curran put the finishing touch on Norwalk's 16-15 victory by inducing Brandon Muto into a game-ending grounder to short, advancing Norwalk to the winner's bracket semifinals.

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"We never said die," Norwalk head coach Gerald Anastasia said. "I've got to give the kids a lot of credit for that."

Norwalk will play the winner of the Newtown-Groton game Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. at Brien McMahon. Greenwich, which did not drop a game in state play last year, will try to fight its way out of the loser's bracket starting with Naugatuck today at 8 p.m.

"It's tough to beat the home team in their home field," Greenwich head coach John Berger said. "But you can come out of the loser's bracket"¦ If we don't get eliminated tomorrow, we'll be in the final four and we'll have to battle our way out."

Tied at 14 in the bottom of the sixth, Norwalk loaded the bases on a walk and two errors. Catcher Mike Parlanti, who terrorized Greenwich pitching all game, lined a single to center passed a drawn-in infield that plated two runs, including the game winner. Parlanti was 5-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored.

"I always knew on offense we can do the job," Anastasia said. "We just knew this was our game to win." Parlanti's single capped a great offensive day for Norwalk, which erased leads of five and one runs in the game.

"Everybody hit (Sunday)," Anastasia said.

"Two through six did a (great) job of swinging the bats for us."

Greenwich also experienced an offensive explosion, twice posting five-run innings. Greenwich scored five in the opening inning on six hits and one error. However, Norwalk plated three in the first, four in the second and five in the third to grab a 12-5 lead.

Greenwich, the two-time state champs, showed their fortitude and battled back to close the gap to 12-8 with a three-run fourth inning rally sparked by shortstop Dylan Callahan (3-for-3, 2 BB, 5 R).

Momentum was in Greenwich's corner in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out, one run in and second baseman Taylor Olmstead (3-for-4, 4 RBI, 3 R, K) at the plate.

Greenwich had talked before the tournament about the increased power in their lineup, and on a 1-1 pitch to Olmstead the talk came to fruition.

The 6-foot-1 second baseman drilled the pitch over the left-centerfield fence to give Greenwich a 13-12 lead.

"They have an indomitable spirit," Berger said of his team.

Norwalk, however, showed their poise, reclaiming the lead, 14-13, on a two-run double the opposite way to left-center by first baseman Rich Henderson in the bottom of the fifth.

Greenwich then tied the game, 14-14, in the sixth when Callahan scored on an opposite field single to right by first baseman Liam O'Neil (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R).

Greenwich beat Naugatuck in last year's state tournament championship. Berger knows his team still has a good shot at the state title since Naugatuck came through the loser's bracket to make the finals last year.